AFTER waiting for generations, sports enthusiasts in West Craven will see the start of a new £1,200,000 pool and sports hall before the end of summer.

The first concrete move in turning a long-held dream into reality came on Tuesday night when councillors gave the go ahead to Turner Construction to get on with the work.

The hall and specially designed learner pool is being built with the aid of a Sports Council grant from the National Lottery.

The bill is more than than original £1,050,00 estimate, and council officials are currently talking with the sports council to get more cash. The lottery money accounts for 65 per cent of the cost, with Pendle council meeting the rest.

Campaigner Councillor David Whipp said: "This is something West Craven has been waiting for for 20 years

"The original lottery application for cash to build the learner pool and a sports hall had to be put together in next to no time and was little more than a sketch drawing. It was done over a Christmas holiday.

"The increased costs have come about from improvements to the design. There is 25 per cent extra floor space and a fitness room which have been added at the suggestion of people in Barnoldswick. I hope the application for a bit more cash from the Sports Council is successful, but whatever happens it will still go ahead.

"Pendle is allowed to make one application for increased grant under the lottery rules.

"It is only sensible to get every penny we can to add to the funds already promised by Pendle, the local town and parish councils, West Craven High School and the money raised through the super efforts of the West Craven Sports Campaign.

"Unfortunately, there will be a slight delay until we get an answer from the Sports Council, but it is well worth it to get the project right before it starts.

"Lots of people have campaigned for this pool, and many of us remember how bitterly disappointed West Craveners were when the plans for the learner pool were ditched.

"Nobody wants to go through that again. We have fought a long time, and when the learner pool does eventually have its first young swimmers they will be the grandchildren of the folk who campaigned in the first place."

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